Printing on Tshirts with Vinyl..

[Kahboose]

Been going on for a few weeks really well but got a few mixed fibre tshirts to do cotton/polyester for a dance school. I really dont want to damage the material as its very shiny and plumbed to use nyloflex due to the lower heat to fix but i was wondering how other members who use vinyl to print avoid marking different material ?

Cotton seems ok have occasionally made a few raised stitched areas a little shiny but nothing too bad. Just wondered how others tackle the heat effecting the materials used.

Cheers guys

[WorthDoingRight]

Well when I first got my press it would not go above 215 degrees F (I thought it was in C but it wasnt) and I was able to attach flex to items even at this low temperature (it was about 100 degree C).

I always use a teflon sheet between the press and the item and a further sheet inside the item incase glue seeps through. I have not done enough to see any of the issues you mention but wonder if perhaps your pressing too hard?

[RogerC]

A lot depends on the vinyl you use. I have one that is good for use on cotton, polyester, poly/cotton blends and.........lycra. It is flexible so recovers it shape if stretched out, doesn't crack or split and can be ironed over as long as you don't go nuts with the iron temp. However no matter what I try there is always an element of 'shining' on the item of clothing which does (so I am told) disappear after washing.

[WorthDoingRight]

I have one that is good for use on cotton, polyester, poly/cotton blends and.........lycra. It is flexible so recovers it shape if stretched out, doesn't crack or split and can be ironed over as long as you don't go nuts with the iron temp.

This sounds like a good all purpose flex to stock lol

Would you be willing to PM me the details?

[RogerC]

This sounds like a good all purpose flex to stock lol

Would you be willing to PM me the details?

I certainly can if it's of use to you as it is for solvent print.

[Kahboose]

I'm using hot flex mainly from BMS & MDP (I prefer BMS but MDP fall slightly cheaper for a linear meter) Ive just got a free sample of 123 vinyl from my current Tshirt supplier to try apparently 150c for 3 seconds and your done (we'll see)
Ive tried lowering the pressure but as a newbie its very much trial and error as what exactly medium pressure is my definition of medium pressure could actually be light or even heavy so i don't really know.

Generally I press for at 155c for 10 to 15 seconds if layering .. with a final 15 second press to finish it off. But again the pressure is quite firm taking a little effort to lock down but not needing two hands if that makes sense.

Any advice on gauging pressure really appreciated.

Lee

[WorthDoingRight]

Well the trouble with gauging pressure is it is all relative to the thickness of the item you are pressing. The easiest laymans guide is to just get the press to close on the item with minimal pressure and then turn the adjustment screw say a turn more for light, two turns for medium and three turns for heavy (it may be 2,4,6 turns or 3,6,9 - you will have to experiment). Until someone makes an ultra thin set of scales / pressure sensor or you buy a press with a gauge this will be your best method.

[mrs maggot]

i find the 123 flex very good, although its a little thick and has a different feel to it, the main problem is forgetting other flex is not 123, and ripping it off after 3 seconds to find a mess on a shirt lol

to me your press times seem a little long, esp on the layers, but if you are getting results you are happy with stick with it

[crystaluk]

Well the trouble with gauging pressure is it is all relative to the thickness of the item you are pressing. The easiest laymans guide is to just get the press to close on the item with minimal pressure and then turn the adjustment screw say a turn more for light, two turns for medium and three turns for heavy (it may be 2,4,6 turns or 3,6,9 - you will have to experiment). Until someone makes an ultra thin set of scales / pressure sensor or you buy a press with a gauge this will be your best method.

Great advice for me!! I just haven't a clue how to get the pressure right and am always stressing!!

[bigj2552]

Great advice for me!! I just haven't a clue how to get the pressure right and am always stressing!!

buy some vinyl your gonna use...like 6/7 sheets ( if thats how you buy it )
get the coffee/tea on -
and start with recommended settings from supplier and adjust up/down from there.
ALWAYS write down the settings you use, so you can look at them and compare what worked and didnt.
Then you know not to use them settings again.

yes, you will bugger up the vinyl, but thats what trial n error is all about....
you can get all the advice on here till your brain is spinning but, the best way is to try and learn yourself, with a little help from the guys on here to get you a rough starting position.

thats the way i done it....look/ask on forum, then go and trail it myself....yes there were a few choice words here n there while doing it but,you will get there.....REMEMBER - WRITE YOUR SETTINGS DOWN....will save you wasting more vinyl and stress you out less....
good luck ...
johnny